Showing 5015 results

People and organizations
5314 · Person · 1898-1960

Edward Jack Savannah was born in Victoria, British Columbia on October 19th, 1898. He was educated at the University of California, where he attained a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science. Afterward, he pursued post-doctoral work at the University of Washington. He returned to Victoria shortly after the death of his father, John Savannah, in 1925. John had operated a commercial photography studio in Victoria, and Edward took over the business upon his death.

The studio operated under the names Savannah Studio, Savannah Portraits, and simply Savannah. Whereas Savannah Studio was located at 500-1122 Government Street from 1925-1939 and operated solely as a photography studio, Edward also opened the Art Centre, in 1935, at 752 Fort Street. Initially, the new business was wholly distinct from the Savannah Studio and operated as a camera repair and photography supplies store. In 1939 Edward commissioned, and moved into, a new building to house both the Art Centre and Savannah Studio at 780 Fort Street. In 1947 he moved the Art Centre to 798 Fort Street, and shortly after, in 1948, he moved the studio as well. The Art Centre continued under his ownership until 1952 when he sold the business, which also marked the end of Savannah Studio. However, photographs taken by him continued to appear in the Daily Colonist until at least 1958. He also maintained a career outside of photography as a professor of chemistry at Victoria College from 1929 until his death.

Edward married Yvonne Frances Willsie on September 2nd, 1953, and they had two daughters: Anne and Jane. Edward, for the majority his life in Victoria, lived at 921 Cook Street, and his family lived there until after the death of his mother, Maude Savannah, in 1962. Edward himself died two years earlier, on October 26th, 1960.

Clay (family)
10928 · Family

William Clay, the son of Jonathan and Mary Clay, married Elizabeth Victoria Donaldson. William and Elizabeth had three children: Donald, Eric, and Leonard Clay.

Donaldson (family)
5846 · Family

Alexander Dawson Donaldson was the son of Alexander and Mary Donaldson. Following his mother's death, he was adopted by his uncle James Dawson. Alexander came to Victoria in 1862 and married Amanda Woolsey in 1879. The marriage produced 4 children, Alexander T. Woolsey, James Douglas, Margaret Dawson and Elizabeth Victoria. Alexander Sr. worked as a carpenter until 1901 when the family moved to a farm in Sooke. He died in 1909 at the age of 70 and his wife Amanda died in 1930 at the age of 75. The youngest daughter, Elizabeth Victoria married William Clay, the son of Jonathan and Mary Clay.

3959 · Person

Alexander Donaldson was a Victoria carpenter and, later, Sooke resident whose daughter, Elizabeth, married William Clay.

2033 · Corporate body · 1921-

The Victoria Horticultural Society was formed in 1921 as the Victoria and District Cottage Gardeners Mutual Improvement Association. The name was changed in 1922 to the Victoria and District Gardener's Association. In 1927 this was changed to its current name.

Warner James Johnson (Firm)
9994 · Corporate body

Although Warner James Johnson Architects Planners originated in 1951, senior architect Percy Leonard James had been an established architect since 1908, working in association with other local architects such as Hubert Savage. The firm has undergone a number of changes over the years.

8296 · Corporate body · 1883-1912

Drake, Jackson and Helmcken were Victoria barristers and notaries public.

McKillican & McCalman (Firm)
8340

McKillican and McCalman was composed of William McKillican and Peter McCalman, both contractors and builders.

Fleming Bros. (Firm)
351 · Corporate body

Harold and Edgar Fleming were professional photographers.

2019 · Corporate body

Originally founded in 1863 as the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, it was then incorporated in 1878 as the British Columbia Board of Trade. From 1902 until 1921 it was known as the Victoria, British Columbia Board of Trade, when it again became the Victoria Chamber of Commerce. Since 1967 it has used the name Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce (GVCC).

Pocock, R.L., 1874-1943
372 · Person · 1874-1943

Richard Lawrence Pocock was born in London, England on January 9, 1874. He was educated in Somersetshire and Bath Colleges and went on to complete his studies at Pembroke College, Oxford. The son of a London barrister, he trained in the mining profession and worked for several years as a mining engineer in the Kootenays. He arrived in Nelson, British Columbia in 1897. In 1899, he came to the coast to locate timber limits and water rights for the Industrial Power Company. He also staked the Powell River waterpower project in 1899 and the Clowhom River Project. A few years later he went to Kweichow, China with the Anglo-French Quicksilver Company to mine for mercury. Upon returning to British Columbia, Pocock joined the staff of the Daily Colonist in May 1907. At first, he was employed in the business office where he remained for five years working as a cashier. In 1912 he was made staff photographer, magazine, sports, and telegraph editor. He held the last two positions in succession for twenty-four of his thirty-six-year career with the newspaper. He wrote for the paper under the nom de plume “Old Stager”. His favorite pastimes included fishing, shooting and golf.

On May 1, 1907, Pocock married Emma George, an avid golfer and the first woman in B.C. to arrive at her wedding in an automobile. They had one daughter, Amy Katherine (b. 1909). Amy later married Theodore A. Robinson. The family lived at 1145 View Street from 1907 until Emma’s death in 1960. Pocock died in Victoria on October 24, 1943.

Lawrie, Ivy
10912 · Person · 1892-1977
10904 · Person · 1883-1955

William Andrew Mulcahy was born in Quebec City on September 2, 1883, the son of Andrew Mulcahy and Harriet McIntyre. The Mulcahy family moved to Victoria ca. 1891. The family initially lived in James Bay and later moved to “Oak House” at 1007 Esquimalt Road ca. 1908.

William Mulcahy held a number of positions in his working life, including conductor with the B.C. Electric Railway Company (ca. 1905-1909), draftsman, and clerk with the Provincial Government. He married Clara Morrow McDonald (1891-1972) on October 1, 1914. They had three sons: Donald Owen (1916-1995), Andrew William (1919-2003), and Allan Patrick (1921-1995). William Mulcahy died in Victoria on October 20, 1955.

Peatt, Frederick James
5059 · Person

Frederick James Peatt was a tanner at the Rock Bay Tannery as well as an employee at the B.C. Electric Railway. The Peatt family built a home on Craigflower Road (later 1003 Russell Street) ca. 1885 and lived there until 1904.

Bantly, Benedict, 1878-1961
10448 · Person · 1878-1961

Benedict Joseph Bantly was born in San Francisco on May 9, 1878, the youngest son of Marcus Bantly (1848-1906) and Anna Grimm (1848-1912). Marcus and Anna immigrated from Wertemberg, Germany in 1870 to the United Sates where Marcus became involved in the manufacturing of cigars. Marcus and Anna had six children in San Francisco, though only three survived into adulthood: Simon Anton (“Tony”), Rosina (“Rose”), and Benedict. In 1883 the Bantlys came to Victoria, where Marcus again worked in cigar manufacturing and Anna supplemented their income by doing fancy embroidery work.

Marcus Bantly was an accomplished musician, a gift he would pass down to his children. Tony was a talented violinist and for many years was the leader of the Victoria Theatre Orchestra. Benedict a violinist, organist and pianist and played in several local orchestras as well as serving as organist for St. Andrew's Catholic Church. The Bantlys also formed their own orchestra, the Bantly Family Orchestra in which Marcus played clarinet, Tony the violin, Rosina the piano and Benedict either the violin or piano. In 1902 Benedict went to study at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Leipzig where he remained for four years.

While in Leipzig he met Johanna ("Hanna") Gertrude Mensinger and they were married in St. Andrew's Cathedral in Victoria on July 31, 1907. The couple had six children: Benedict M. Jr. (1908-1934), Charlotte Clara (b. 1909), Mona A. (1910-1978), Mark M. (1913-1972), Clement Francis (b. 1914?), and Josephine Johanna (b. 1919). Benedict operated his own music studio for many years and, in 1920, formed the Rotary Orchestra, which existed for over 30 years.

Benedict appears to have developed an interest in photography around 1909, taking photographs of family, relations, friends, music students and street scenes. He captured images of both the music and German communities in Victoria, as well as notable events such as the ploughing up of Fort Street with horses and soldiers marching down Fort Street during the First World War.

For many years, the Bantly family home sat on two city lots at 1127 Fort Street. In 1910, Tony and Benedict subdivided the property. Each had a home built beside their widowed mother, Benedict and Johanna at 1125 Fort Street and Simon and Frances at 1121 Fort Street.

In August of 1922, Benedict and Johanna moved to California, where he composed music for silent movies and later became the director of music at La Puente Union High School. He also served as concert master of the San Gabriel Valley Symphony Orchestra. Other members of the Bantly family later followed. Johanna died in a car accident in California on August 31, 1939 and Benedict remarried. His second wife was Nellie Hickey (nee Pauline), daughter of Frederick Pauline of Victoria. Benedict died in California on February 18, 1961.